Chief Aviation Underwriter & VP, Portfolio Growth

Skyward Specialty; United States; Remote; USD 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Skyward Specialty is seeking a Vice President, Aviation to lead the aviation book, own its P&L, and set the annual class plan. This executive crafts the underwriting team, mentors leaders, and underwrites key accounts while building broker and client relationships and partnering with Apollo Aviation.

The role requires a market expert who drives performance, governs risk, and collaborates across actuarial, claims, compliance and capital teams to maintain strong portfolio results.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of underwriting experience in general aviation insurance.
• 5+ years of people management experience leading underwriting teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the underwriting team and support supervisor to execute the annual plan and achieve key performance targets.
• Build underwriting capability through clear expectations, coaching, succession planning and targeted development.
• Run underwriting meetings, technical reviews and training sessions.
• Partner with underwriters to identify growth opportunities and strengthen the class proposition.
• Build a collaborative relationship with the Apollo Aviation team to generate opportunities, advance product development and share market intelligence.
• Develop the annual class plan with senior management and own its execution against key performance targets.
• Prepare annual production forecasts and departmental expense budgets.
• Build, manage and execute the account pipeline for the class.
• Strengthen relationships with key brokers and clients, develop new relationships and maintain excellent service standards.
• Collaborate with internal partners across actuarial, claims, compliance, risk, human resources, capital and underwriting.
• Lead reinsurance purchasing for the class, working with Capital and other stakeholders.
• Underwrite, price and negotiate aviation business within the Business Plan and delegated underwriting authority, acting as senior underwriter on key accounts.
• Review risk selection, underwriting quality and pricing across the department, providing challenge, guidance and approval.
• Maintain effective pricing models that support consistent pricing guidelines across the class.
• Maintain and develop underwriting guidelines, policy forms, coverage provisions and rates, drafting changes as needed.
• Coordinate form and rate filings with the filing function and prepare new filings for state regulators.
• Review and approve changes to the underwriting database system.
• Monitor class portfolio performance and implement controls and initiatives to stay within agreed risk parameters.
• Review aviation loss notices and analyze loss and claims data to inform underwriting strategy and portfolio actions.
• Participate in scheduled management calls and committees as required.
• Ensure underwriting activity meets governance, regulatory and internal control requirements.
• Serve as Skyward's market expert for aviation, tracking economic, technical and market trends and sharing insight across the business.
• Meet with brokers and attend client presentations to build relationships with new and existing producers.
• Represent Skyward externally in a way that strengthens its reputation in the insurance market.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Strategic thinking

Education

Underwriting experience in general aviation insurance

People management experience in underwriting

Job description

Skyward Specialty is seeking a Vice President, Aviation to lead the aviation book, own its P&L, and set the annual class plan. This executive crafts the underwriting team, mentors leaders, and underwrites key accounts while building broker and client relationships and partnering with Apollo Aviation.

The role requires a market expert who drives performance, governs risk, and collaborates across actuarial, claims, compliance and capital teams to maintain strong portfolio results.